Summer is quickly approaching and will arrive June 21 at 12:24 am eastern time. This is a time to celebrate the fruits of the spring and to recognize how nature serves us. This is also the most powerful day of the year to meditate.

In case you're wondering about the change in the newsletter:

What does "Mata Shakti Ashram" mean?

*The word "Mata" means "mother" in India. In Portugese and Spanish, the word "Mata" means wood or forest, and Mata Shakti Ashram is located in a quiet wooded setting.

Mata Shakti Ashram will be filing for non-profit status, and is asking for your help as we determine how best to move forward. If you are interested in finding out how you can support this center of spiritual practice, contact me: hardarshan@matashaktiashram.org

I will continue to include information about special events related to my counseling practice in this newsletter, and www.sacredlistener.com will be the website focused on the psychotherapy services that I offer.

The last group class for The Highly Sensitive Person this spring will be held on June 7.

Over the next few months of classes, the yoga sets and meditations will be drawn from insights from the book "The End of Karma" by Dharma Singh Khalsa, MD. This book takes the 40 parts of Japji, the sacred Sikh morning prayer, and illuminates the basic message of each. This path of inquiry is open to people of all beliefs and faith traditions! Topics for each week: (Thursdays only)

"To teach anything worthwhile, one must know the language of the heart".

James Tipton

Recipe of the Month

"Power Salad in a Jar"

This tends to be a busy time of year for many. This is a handy way to have a quick and cool meal to take to work with you.

1. Spoon your choice of dressing into a pint size mason jar.

2. Add some cooked quinoa or beans for protein.

3. Sprinkle in some seeds and/or nuts for texture.

4. top it off with two handfuls of vegetables, such as avocado, radish, cucumber, celery, beets, tomatoes, onions, carrots, etc. Follow with one handful of fresh salad leaves.

5. when you are ready to eat your salad, simply give the jar a shake, tip it upside down onto a plate, and enjoy!

Service Opportunity

Mata Shakti Ashram welcomes your support! How can you help?

Time and Talent: help with yard and garden maintenance, upkeep of classroom and workshop/training spaces, vegetarian raw food prep, help with social media and technology.Talk to your friends and perosnal community about Mata Shakti Ashram, for we are truly "grass roots"!

Finance/Funds: Donations of money to assist Mata Shakti Ashram pay the overhead cost for the current space, pay guest teachers, and provide some scholarships to those in need. Let us know how much you are willing to pledge monthly or yearly over the next year to 5 years, as we prepare the non-profit status. Every donation will receive a class pass to share with a friend to acquaint them with the ashram.